Meanwhile, Red Bull Stratos Science Team Reveals More of the Technology Breakthroughs That Reassure Pilot
LANCASTER, CA--(Marketwire - May 17, 2010) - As his Red Bull Stratos freefall from the edge of space looms ever nearer, mission pilot Felix Baumgartner conceded for the first time that he does experience moments of anxiety.
"The evening before any dangerous skydive, I can't help thinking that it might be the last night I'll ever see," he explained.
The 41-year-old Austrian went on, "While there's a certain pressure in knowing that the whole world will be watching, there's more than pride involved here. It can be life or death. No one quite knows what happens to the body while breaking the speed of sound. Parts of my body will be supersonic and others subsonic. This will be a critical moment."
Baumgartner finds reassurance in the kind of engineering details shared today at Sage Cheshire Aerospace, where the Red Bull Stratos science team introduced prototype technology aimed at bringing him back to Earth -- hopefully as a new record holder, but most importantly, safe and sound.
What It Takes to Freefall from the Edge of Space
Besides Baumgartner's "second skin" space suit, the components necessary to safely complete a freefall from 120,000 feet include: a mammoth helium balloon; a pressurized capsule; a chest pack with monitoring, tracking and communications capabilities; and a personal parachute system unlike any other in existence.
About Red Bull Stratos
Red Bull Stratos is a mission to the edge of space. Pilot Felix Baumgartner will ascend to the stratosphere in an attempt to launch a freefall jump that would see him become the first person to break the speed of sound with the human body. The data captured by this mission and its team of world-leading scientists promises new standards in aerospace safety, expanding the boundaries of human flight.
BBC Documentary
An exclusive, all-access documentary about the Red Bull Stratos project is being produced by the BBC together with National Geographic. A few weeks after the jump in 2010, the feature-length film will premiere on BBC2 in the UK and National Geographic Channel in the US. It will be aired across the rest of the world soon after. The 90-minute documentary about Red Bull Stratos is being globally licensed and distributed to broadcasters by BBC Worldwide.
Broadcasters interested in the BBC documentary should visit www.bbcworldwide.com for more details.
Red Bull Stratos is proud to share this mission with the following partners:
Nokia
As the official global mobile partner, Nokia has developed the Red Bull Stratos application to monitor this groundbreaking project. Available exclusively through Ovi Store by Nokia, users can learn more about the mission's progress by reading articles and watching videos from the Red Bull Stratos team of experts. Nokia users can also follow the countdown, stream the final jump in real time and watch Felix Baumgartner's pulse race by monitoring his biometrical data before, during and after the jump. Once complete, the app will deliver unique content about the Red Bull Stratos mission direct to handset. For more information, please visit http://www.ovi.com.
Microsoft
Microsoft is the global media technology partner for Red Bull Stratos. Microsoft's Silverlight and IIS Smooth Streaming technology bring an interactive live experience in High Definition to web viewers worldwide. To learn more, visit http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight.
Riedel Communications
Riedel Communications -- renowned for its pioneering advanced fiber, intercom and radio technology -- provides the entire communications solution for this outstanding project, integrating both wireless and wired digital intercom systems. Additionally, Riedel furnishes the fiber-based video and signal distribution as well as the wireless video links to the capsule's onboard cameras -- enabling stunning pictures to be delivered from the Red Bull Stratos capsule. Please visit http://www.riedel.net.
Notes to Editors
About Sage Cheshire Aerospace
Sage Cheshire Aerospace, Inc. offers the best services of leading technical minds in research, advanced composite design, engineering and fabrication to find solutions for a full spectrum of aerospace needs. Sage Cheshire is designing, building and testing the Red Bull Stratos pressurized capsule. The company also coordinates other vital aspects of the mission, from creating computer fluid dynamics to selecting crews and interfacing with outside agencies. For more information, please visit: www.sagecheshire.com.
For hi-res images, B-roll, web videos and additional press materials throughout the project, please visit: www.redbullstratos.com/newsroom.
Red Bull Stratos content, as well as other Red Bull productions, can also be accessed at: www.redbullcontentpool.com.
Contact Information:
Press Information:
Maddy Stephens
Red Bull Communications
210.414.1904
maddy.stephens@us.redbull.com